Riding again

Over the last couple weeks I went on three rides. One for 34 miles, the next for 24 and then on Saturday a short 15 miler. My odometer is still broken, so I am going by memory on the rides.

Cathedral Ride

I went out this afternoon for a short 14 miler. The highlight of the ride was climbing the hill on the way up to the National Cathedral. It's a good 2.5 mile hill that gets you breathing heavy by the top. Of course, getting to catch your breath at the foot of the cathedral is a treat no matter how many times you do it.

My computer is still dead, so no stats.

Lunchtime ride

I stole away today for 15 miles at lunch. I have no stats because my bike's computer died three miles in. That sucks because now I have to go buy a new one. WISH LIST!

Cage Match

Pippin and Spencer (Liz's sisters' puppy) duking it out.

I think I may actually ride this year

After a lackluster 2007 (only 800 miles) it is time to get back on the bike. I probably won't come close to my 2006 mark (we have a busy, busy summer planned), but I would like to double my 2007 mark.

So far this January I have been out on three rides: 33 miles on New Years day, 17 miles the day after and then 22 miles two days ago.

I even went out for a brief two mile ride yesterday in which Pippin pulled me on the bike the whole way. The little furball was actually strong enough to pull me the whole time. I was quite impressed. He was wiped out afterward though.



I am going to try to keep this blog more updated with posts about rides, Pippin, trips, whiskey of the single malt variety and maybe an occasional political post.

Vineyard Vacation

(This is the beach we are staying on...and that is Pippin wandering about)

We have been on Martha's Vineyard for four days, and I have been out on a ride every day. The terrain is gentle rolling hills along beach roads. It is gorgeous.

The temps have not topped 75 degrees all week. So far I have logged 75 miles.

Here are a few pics of some of our rides:


Me


Me...and Liz


Liz and Dad

Not much riding, but some beach time

I haven't been riding a lot. I am only at around 300 miles for the year, and most of those are weekend warrior miles.

This weekend there was no ride because we went up to Cape May New Jersey for some rest and relaxation.

It was a beautiful weekend and we got to take Pippin to the beach for the first time. Above is a pic of him running with Liz and then me dunking him in the ocean for the first time ever below.

Sunday Ride

I went on a great ride this Sunday which should help me get back in the saddle on a more regular basis. Tom posted the ride stats over at his blog and I posted the route below.

Back in the saddle

Spring is finally here and it is time for me to start riding again. From January 1st through today, I have only managed to ride 125 miles. The time off has been nice, but as the days are getting longer and the temps are rising, I am finally feeling like riding more.

Liz and I rode 20.5 miles today. Most of it was doing laps down at Haines Point with a friend.

Finished!!!

Well, I finally finished! My weekend riding took me right up to my goal of 3500 miles. I now am free to sit back and enjoy the holiday season without worrying about when and how I will get my next ride in.

This experience has been a great one for me. I learned that I can actually make a New Year's resolution and follow it through to the end...over the course of a year no less. That is very satisfying.

I also learned that for me, sometimes it takes the weight of a personal commitment hanging over my head to actually be productive. I can't tell you how many days this year I would have much rather sat on my butt at home than go out on a cold lonely ride after work.

Not that every ride was cold and lonely. Much to the contrary. The majority of the time I spent on my bike this year (233 hours assuming a 15 mph pace -- that is almost 10 straight days of nonstop riding or 4.5 hours of riding every week of the year) was time well spent. I listened to many Alistair Beggs sermons on my iPod, a couple C.S. Lewis books, 1776 by David McCullough and some others.

I also shaired great conversations when I was lucky to be joined by friends and family including my buddies James, Jesse, MAC and of course Dad (who got me over the winter hump and in position to finish a little earlier than I had anticipated). And Liz should get some credit for loggin at least a couple hundred miles with me!

And, of course, the solitude on many a beautiful day was a refreshing time to think, clear my head and pray.

Time well spent.

So what now?

I will of course keep riding, and keep logging my rides here. I am considering shooting for a higher number next year but at present work looks to be taking up more of my time in the past so I may have to reconsider that. We will see. I guess it all depends on if I have that one-too-many glass of champagne this New Year's!

After all, that's how this whole thing got started!

Mileage update

I haven't posted my last couple rides. I got out for 20-something mile rides on Saturday and Sunday and then did not get back on the bike till Thursday when I rode 24 miles.

I went out early this morning and logged 16 miles.

The weather is ridiculously warm right now so I anticipate finishing my New Year's goal tomorrow or Sunday.

I only have 33 miles to go!

A quick morning ride

I had very little time for riding today, but was able to get out early this morning. I only rode 13 miles.

My odometer now reads 3380.

It's COLD out!

I forced myself to go out on a ride this morning at 7:30 (it was the only time I had today because of work). This was the first time I have ridden in sub-freezing temps since January and I forgot how much I hate being cold.

I managed to get in just over 16 miles before I was frozen to the bone.

My odometer now reads 3367.

I hope to get a similar ride in tomorrow morning and then ride both Saturday and Sunday. If I do that, I should be well under 100 miles to go heading into the early part of next week.

50-mile weekend

I got out for just over 20 miles this morning. I now have 149 miles to go.

Stats:
21.78 miles
Avg 17.1 mph
1 hr 16 mins
Cad 81
Odometer 3351

Saturday ride

The unusual stretch of warm winter weather ended today, as the temps plunged from the 70's down to the 40's. It gave me a chance to sport my new Descent winter gloves which kept my hands pretty toasty.

I rode alone today down to Old Town where they were having some sort of festival that required men to wear their scottish kilts and women the same. Pretty cool...

It was windy on the way home -- about 15-20 mph prevailing in the face. I rounded the ride out with some laps down around the tidal basin.

Stats:
30.32 miles
Avg. 14.9 mph
2 hrs 3 mins
Cad 65
Odometer: 3329

Thursday ride stats

It was ridiculously warm today so I took the opportunity to log some miles.

I listened to this new U2 album I bought on iTunes. There are some great live performances on this one.

Stats:
29.89 miles
Avg 16.3 mph
1 hr 50 mins
Cad 75
Odometer 3299

Getting closer

I got out for an early morning ride yesterday with James. We went down to Old Town and back. The trails were empty at the early hour.

Total ride was 23 miles. My odometer now reads 3269.

Not sure if I will have time to get out today...

100 miles in four days

While in western PA for Thanksgiving Dad and I rode Wednesday through Saturday. We had absolutely beautiful weather for this time of year and I enjoyed the rolling western PA hills (as well as the company on my bike--I am pretty tired of riding alone)...although as I rest today on the couch, my legs are telling me the downtime watching football instead of riding is well-advised.

We rode 20 miles on Wednesday, 15 on Thursday, 32 on Friday and 33 on Saturday. My odometer now reads 3249.

Here are some pics of our ride on Saturday.

Pre-ride shot...


On the road...




On all four rides we followed many creek beds...


The upside to climbing western PA hills is the sloping gentle descents...


Odometer shot...


Dad assumes his post-ride position...


After all four rides we went out with the whole family to Penn Brewery. Two tall Penn Weizens treated me just right!

Hilly riding in Pittsburgh

I am home for Thanksgiving now and I got out on a 20 mile ride today with my dad. The hills make racking up the miles harder, but I really like the change of pace and the change of scenery.

My odometer now reads 3166.

Mileage update

Yes, I have been terrible and posting my rides lately. But that does not mean I haven't been riding.

I am still on track to reach my New Year's goal of 3500 miles. I have been riding on average 4 times a week which has been especially challenging these last few weeks as work has been incredibly busy.

I went out on Friday for a 20 miler and then did a 25 miler yesterday with my buddy Jeff. Today I cut my ride short at 13 miles only to get back in time to watch the Browns drop a heartbreaking loss to the much despised Steelers...sigh.

So as we head into the Holiday season my odometer reads 3146 miles. 354 miles to go. That means I need to average around 9 miles a day for the rest of the year. Completely do-able.